Folding framed display



H. ZIEMMERMAN v 2,101,327

FOLDING FRAMED DISPLAY Filed April 3o, 19'34 2 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 7, 1937. H. zlEMMERMAN FOLDING FRAMED DISPLAY Filed April 3o, 1934 2 sheets-sheet 2 atenied Dec. 7, E93? PATENT OFFICE FOLDING FRAMED DISPLAY Henry Ziemmerman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Cardboard Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application April 30, 1934, Serial No. 723,096

9 Claims.

provision of a framed picture display in which the frame isA foldable out of sheet material and the connection of the frame portions holds the l:frame in distended position.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of improved means for attaching or connecting the `:frame portions to hold them in distended position.

A stm fur-ther object of thi-.invention is in the" provision of an easel mounting attached to the rear of the picture frame for holding it in upright position and collapsible against the back of the frame so that anumber of frames will nest together and fold compactly for shipping and storing them in quantities.

Further objects of the invention will appear tratingpreferred structures and embodiments of the invention.

AIn the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a' frame and easel constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention;

Fig. 2 illustrates a blank from which the frame is` made and a. portion of the easel blank;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; A

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail rear view of one corner of the folded frame showing one of the frame engagingmeans;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the frame engaging parts as shown at the top of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of one corner of the interengaging frame structure;

Figs. 'l and 8 are front and rear views respectively of a modified frame structure and the supporting easels;

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the lline 9 9 of Fieri;

Fig. 10 illustrates the blank structure and method of folding of the modification shown in Figs. '1, 8 and 9;

Fig. 11 illustrates another frame structure more similar to that of Fig. 1;

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line I 2-I2 of Fig. 11; and f Fig. 13 is a sectional view illustrating the nestformed by transverse cuts 1 in the marginal edge hereinafter, the accompanying drawings illus- (Cl. dii-154.)

ing of a numberof folding frames like that of Fig. l with folding easels like thatof Figs. 8 and 9 attached thereto.

In producing a representation ,of a picture frame for a complete display from a single sheet 5 of material it is necessary to cut the marginal edge producing the frame in order that the frame will be oiset from the plane of the picture within it to produce the simulation of a completely framed picture. The present invention provides 10 for the cutting and scoring of the marginal edge of a sheet of iiexible material such as cardboard and the like, so that in bringing or connecting transverselyI cut portions of the rim together it will be folded to represent a marginal frame and may be upheld by an inclined easel representing a framed picture as a novel display for advertising and exhibiting purposes.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, a single sheet of material I, as represented more clearly in Fig. 2, is cut and scored about the edges to provide connected side frame 2 and end portions 3 by means of front and rear score lines 4 and 5, and at the ends are locking flaps 6 and having parallel score lines 4 and 5 -to fold 25 them in conformity with the remainder of the frame. At the ends of the locking flaps 6 and extending from the corners of the picture plane surface 8 are angular projections 9 which extend outside of the score line 5 dening the inner edge of the picture surface 8. These angular portions 9 are cut from the sheet blank I and cause the frame end portionsV 3 to be inclined outwardly in the blank I and the end portions 3 are cut to make an interengaging hooked portion with the upper edge of the locking flaps 6 compri-sing a locking tongue I0 extending from an angular locking wing II formed by a score line I2 extending from the marginal edge to the edge of the score line li in the flap 6 and an angular notch I3 in the upper marginal corner of the frame extension 3 as shown more clearly in Fig. 6.

With this construction there is .little waste material as the parts are cut solidly from the blank I as shown moreclearly in Fig. 6. In order to fold up the frame surrounding the picture surface B, the angular corners of the margins must be provided with a double or heavy crease line Ill about which the frame portions 2 and 3 will fold in opposite directions from the corner juncture of the score lines 'This permits the marginal frame portions on oppositesides of the score lines Ii to be folded angularly to each other and also at an angle tothe picture plane 8 and by such folding the end portions 3 of the frame are moved at right angles to the sides'2 and the locking ap 6 is correspondingly folded on its fold lines 4 and 5 so that the locking tongue I0 may be engaged with the locking notch |3 in order to hold the frame portions together and by similar engagement on both ends of the locking flaps 6 the entire frame is locked together in rectangular relation about the edge of the picture surface 8. The locking wings angularly offset the locking flap 6 in advance of the remainder of the frame at the top and bottom for added decorative effect and to provide a space for a name plate or an advertising label at the top and bottom of the frame.

In order to hold the frame portions in proper alignment, the end portions 3 are separated from the angular projecting portions 9 by a slit |5 which extends to the-adjacent inner corner'of the frame so that the portion |6 included between the slit I5 and the score line 4 may be placed in front of the angular projecting portion 9 before the frame is locked in its rectangular position. The object of this is to hold this portion |6' in alignment with that portion of the locking ap which is included between the score lines 4 and 5, and to make this angular portion of the frame appear as a substantial continuation thereof. k

The extremities of adjacent angular projections 9 may be provided with perforations I6 at the upper ends thereof .through which a cord |1 may be inserted, as shown invFig. 4, at the rear of the frame, so that it may be hung instead of supported by an easel as hereafter set forth.

Any suitable easel may be provided for supporting the frame in upright or slightly inclined position and a one-piece easel, as shown by Figs. 2 and 3 comprises a. strip of pasteboard or other suitable sheet material having continuous back,

' base, and front sections with a pasting flange 20 at its upper end secured to the back of the picture frame near the top. Extending from the attached ange 20 is a hinged back stay 2| with lateral stiffening wings 22, the upper ends of which are cut oil at an angle so that the outer edges 23 thereof when turned inwardly will yieldingly engage the rear of the picture surface 8 for holding the locking wings in a, position substantially at right angles to the back stay 2|` The other end 24 of the easel strip which may be of considerable Width as shown in` Fig. 2, is pasted to the lower end of the back of the frame and has a continuous supporting portion 25 which extends a distance below the frame with a bottom cut-out portion 26 and an intermediate locking tongue 21 formed of the material of the easel strip and hinged about a score -line 28 tofold rearwardly and when set up to provide a simulation of an open stand having legs 29 connected by a cross piece 30. The sides of the standard 25 have hinged locking wings 3| for Stifi'ening and for appearance, adapted to be folded rearwardly with the lower edges engaging a connecting bottom 32 which extends from the lower ends of the legs 29 to the lower end of the rear supporting strut 2|. Intermediate the hinged connections of this bottom support 32 is a folding score 33 which adapts the bottom to be collapsed upwardly as shown in broken outline in Fig. 3, and to assume a straight base portion upon which the easel is supported, the bottom being held in this distended position by the locking tongue 21 which is bent and extended rearwardly into engagement with an angular corcorners of the frame.

0f the sheet material.

` and 3| out of engagement with the picture back and the bottom 32 respectively into the planes of their respective hinged supports and to fold the bottom member 32 upwardly.

Instead of a wide locking member 6 as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, the frame ends 40 may be extended as shown in Fig. 11, and a narrow central locking member 4| may be employed. This locking member 4| and the frame ends may be provided with snap fastener parts 42 and 43 which separably interengage for holding the parts together, or if desired, these parts may be permanently attached by gluing, stapling, or any other suitable well known manner. This form of the invention is also provided with locking tongues or projections 44, in front of which the lower edge of the frame ends 4D are inserted -before they are attached tothe locking member 4|. The frame is the same in angular structure as that shown in Figs. l to 6 and the same easel may be applied thereto or a diierent type of easel, as shown more clearly in Figs. 8 and 9.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive, asimilar appearing frame structure is provided from a single sheet 58 of suitable material, in which the ends and sides forming the frames are angularly cut at the corners to provide separate folding sides 5| and ends 52. Each side and end structure has parallel scores 53 and 54 for folding it over inwardly, and spaced outer tongues 55 for engaging slots 56 at the inside of the sheet for holding the frame portion in place and to define a rectangular inner picture surface 51 as shown more clearly in Fig. 7. 'I'he upper extremities 58 of the inwardly turned side frame portions have an vangular extension which is overlapped by the inwardly turned end frame portions 59 to make a tight angular t at the With this construction it will be seen that the back of the frame is the back of the material forming the front picture surface 51 and the frame is a closed structure entirely in front of the marginal edge of the sheet material. This makes a strong, easily folded frame structure Without corner locking projections and one which may readily. be formed of a single piece of sheet material. One objection to it is that the picture surfacey and the surface forming the frame are on opposite sides of the sheet 50 before it is scored, cut and folded, which requires that printed or lithographed sheets must be applied to the opposite surfaces of the cardboard or other material forming the base In the form shown by Figs. 1 to 6 the frame and the picture may appear on the same printed or lithographed sheet which is `applied to the front surface of the sheet material. In addition to the requirement of one printed sheet only, the form shown in Figs. 1 to 6 overcomes any required precision as to registration of the designs on the printed sheets at the front and back of the sheet material which might be required in the structure of Figs. '7 to 10.

An easel as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 may be applied to the frame shown in Fig. '1, or two separate easel members 60 may be applied by means of a pasting wing 5| to the back of the picture sheet 50 (or to the other sheet i) and each of these members Ahas a cut-out locking tongue 62 adapted to engage the hinged` wing portion and to hold it at right angles to the pasting wing '6 l, the wings resting whenl turned backwardly upon'the lower, slightly inclined, supporting edges 63 which are adapted to hold the display frame in a slightly inclined position.

In-order to fold the easel portions with respect to the frame and tovnest the frames together, these easel members 60 are preferably provided adjacent the lower edge of the picture frame with a folding crease 64 which extends entirely .across the member, permitting it to fold togetherthe wing is extended tp'hold thesupporting wing against collapsing or folding about the fold line 64 until this locking wing portion 65 is again `turned into the plane of the remainder of thev supporting wing portion.

When the easels are released' by the locking -tongues 62 and are folded inwardly against the back ofthe picture frame, the lower projecting portion of the easel may be folded up about the fold line 64 against the attached back portion so that when this type of easel is applied to the frame structures as shown by Figs. 1 to 6, thevv frames will nest together as shown more clearly in Fig. 13 so that a great many ofthem may be packed or supported in a more compact space and relation with respect to each other.

With the construction herein disclosed it is apparent that a complete frame display is pro. vided from a single sheet of material which very closely resembles a picture with a regular enclosing frame applied thereto and made entirely of flexible sheet material. Because of the angular frame construction when it is set up, the display will have considerable rigidity and when applied to or supported by a separate or an attached easel it will have the appearance of an easel supported picture, thereby having the appearance of a high-class picture properly supported by a conventional type of easel. The entire display may be shipped or carried in substantially flat condition thereby occupying little spacev and a number of them may be nested close ly together if desired. They may be easily set up and locked in distended position when ready for use, the locking wings holding the parts in distended position. The folding and collapsing of the display is easily accomplished as above set forth by simply reversing the locking and folding operations. It is, not necessary ordinarily to set up the frame structure but it is easily done by the engagement of the-frame'partsas set forth in the specification.

' Various changes in the construction, combination and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim: l 1. A framed picture display comprising a single sheet of material with its marginal edges cut, scored, and foldable to form an outwardly extending angularly offset marginal frame, the corners being intact and the marginal cuts being at a distance `from the corners, and the adjacent sides of the cuts having disengageable interlocking hooked portions at their outer edges at an angle to each other for releasably drawing up the frame portions at the sides and between adjacent corners and holding the frame in forwardly extending position.

2. A framed picture display comprising a single sheet of material scored, cut and folded to form a picture plane, and a surrounding frame angular in cross section and an easel attached to the back of the picture plane portion, extending below the frame when it is set up, the easel being attached only to the back of the picture plane portion, havinga rectangular supporting base, and being foldable against this portion and the lower end of the easel being foldable upon itself within the confines of the frame so that a number of displays can be nested together by folding the easels and leaving the frames in distended position.

3.A A framed picture display having marginal edges cut, scored and foldable upon themselves and with respect to the central portion of the display to provide a picture plane surrounded on four sides by a forward angularly offset marginal frame, anda supporting easel attached to the rear of the picture plane portion having avrectangular supporting base and extending below the frame to support it in distended position, the easel being foldable rst against the back of the framed display and then the lower portion of the easel being foldable against itself within the confines of the picture plane so that a number vof displays may be nested close together in folded position, the angularly offset portion of one frame being seated partially within the corresponding portion of the next adjacent displays.

4. A framed picture display comprising an extensible and collapsible marginal frame portion scored, cut and folded to extend angularly forward and then'A rearwardly with respect to the interior of the display, a supporting easel attached to the rear of the display, and having spaced parts extending below the lower edge of the frame to support the frame in a raised position, the lower extending parts of the easel representing the legs of a conventionalfeasel and the easel having col1apsing[ fold lines for folding it flatly against the rear ofy the display, and also having vlocking aps foldable at an angle to the easel material cut, scored and foldable to provide a marginal frame surrounding an inner picture plane portion, the frame being transversely cut at opposite sides and the adjacent edges being formed with interengaging portions for locking the frame sections together and in angularly offset relation to the picture plane portion, the end portions of the frame adjacent the corners being cut at an angle to the intermediate section so that when the interengaging portions are locked together, the frame parts will be drawn inwardly about the picture plane portion, thereby causing the frame to be angularly offset.

6. A framed picture display comprising sheet material cut, scored and foldable about the edges to form an inner picture plane and a surrounding marginal frame, the 'frame having offset portions transversely cut to provideva locking flap and the adjacent frame portions connected at the corners to the other side frame portions being disposed at an angle to the end of the sheet material from which they are cut, locking.

ture frame and adapted to engage the free angular adjacent ends of the picture frame in locking. position, the locking flaps and the adjacent edges of the frame portions having interengaging means to draw the frame portions together in an angularly offset position about the picture plane when the said frame. end portions are engaged in front of the locking projections.'

7. A framed picture display comprising a single sheet of material cut, scored and foldable to form a picture plane and a surrounding raised frame angular in cross section, the frame having offset ends cut transversely thereof to form locking tabs with angular wings at the ends, and the adjacent frame portions at the ends'being cut free from the picture plane and at an angle thereto, the adjacent edges of these end frame portions and the adjacent ends of the locking wings having interengaging means for drawingthe frame portions together and elevating them aboye the plane of the picture, and the said locking wings also offsetting that portion of the locking tab which is between them from the remainder of the end of the frame.

8. A foldable frame display comprising sheet material cut, scored and foldable to form a marginal frame structure about a picture frame, the frame being transversely cut at opposite sides intermediate the corners to provide locking portions, interengaging means between the locking portions and the adjacent frame parts for drawing the frame parts inwardlyabout the edge of the picture plane and providing a frame portion beveled forwardly from the picture plane and an outer edge portion inclined rearwardly from the outwardly beveled portion, the connecting angular corners of the frame portions being scored so that the frame will fold oppositely in the beveled and outer portions at the corners.

9. 'Ihe combination with a picture frame display comprising a single sheet of cardboard having its marginal edges scored, cut and foldable and with interengaging opposite cut portions to draw the frame portions inwardly with respect to the picture plane, forming an angular beveled frame on.all sides of the picture plane, and an easel therefor comprising a single piece of material having one end attached adjacent the top and the other end adjacent the bottom of the back of the picture display, the intermediate portion of the easel comprising aback brace and a front brace separated by a collapsible base, the back base having side locking wings engaging the rear of the display at the top to hold themr in distended position, and the front support having a central cut-out tongue foldable backwardly into the angle between the base and the rear brace to hold the easel yieldingly in upright distended position supporting the frame display.

HENRY ZIEMMERMAN. 

